Man Pleads Not Guilty in Valley Hate Crime Allegation

A 49-year-old man who allegedly vandalized a San Fernando Valley plumbing business twice with anti-Semitic graffiti pleaded not guilty today to hate crime, vandalism and weapons charges.

Amos Hason faces three weapons-related felony counts filed today by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

He was previously charged by the City Attorney's Office with three misdemeanor counts of vandalism and three counts of a hate crime.

"This case is a stark reminder that there is still hate in our society and we must strike back against it every time it emerges," City Attorney Mike Feuer said.

Prosecutors allege Hason drove to a Jewish-owned Van Nuys plumbing business twice in April and painted swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti including, "Adolf was right. Kill Jews!" on a rear fence and dumpster out back. The vandalism was captured by a surveillance camera, authorities said.

Hason, who was arrested over the weekend, has been convicted twice on weapons possession charges, according to the City Attorney's Office.

His bail was raised today to $100,000 from an initial setting of $68,000, prosecutors said.

Hason is due back in court May 16 for a pretrial hearing in the weapons case and May 23 for a hearing on the misdemeanor charges.

--City News Service